Rangers in shock deal as controversial El Hadji Diouf arrives

The 30-year-old Senegalese international forward, a hugely controversial figure as a result of several unsavoury incidents throughout his career, arrived at Murray Park last night to join the Scottish champions less than two hours before the transfer window closed.

On a busy final day of transfer dealing as Rangers manager, Walter Smith also signed 19-year-old Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley on loan for the rest of the season. Striker James Beattie moved to Blackpool on loan, while Andy Webster was given permission to discuss a return to Hearts. Diouf, who could make his debut in tomorrow night's SPL fixture against Hearts at Ibrox, is likely to receive a hostile reception from opposition supporters in Scotland, most notably those of Celtic.

It was against Rangers' greatest rivals that Diouf committed one of his many high profile misdemeanours. Playing for Liverpool in a Uefa Cup tie at Parkhead in 2003, he spat at a Celtic supporter after falling into the crowd. He was handed a two-match ban for improper conduct by Uefa who also fined Celtic 2,300 for the conduct of their supporters in the incident. Diouf also faced criminal charges and was fined 5,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court after lodging a guilty plea.

With at least four Old Firm matches scheduled between now and the end of the season, starting off with Sunday's Scottish Cup fifth round tie at Ibrox, Diouf can expect to be the centre of attention.

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In 2004, Diouf was banned for three games by the English FA for spitting at Dutch defender Arjen de Zeeuw while playing for Bolton Wanderers against Portsmouth and was fined two weeks' wages by his club. He attracted negative headlines again at the start of this year when he was widely condemned for allegedly making derogatory comments to Scotland international Jamie Mackie while the QPR player was on a stretcher after suffering a broken leg in an FA Cup tie against Blackburn. QPR manager Neil Warnock launched a furious verbal attack on Diouf after the match, labelling him "lower than a sewer rat" and a "gutter type".

Rangers will hope the player, who began his career in France with Sochaux, Rennes and Lens before moving to England in 2002, can reproduce the form which has persuaded so many clubs to invest in him. He is determined to thrive in his new environment and hopes to earn a permanent move. "I would love to make it permanent," said Diouf last night. "I need a change and this is great for me. I want to make the fans happy and play good football. This club has a great history. It will be great to wear the shirt and I will do my best. Rangers are known throughout the world and I want to be a legend here. I'm so excited about this move."

The capture of Bartley, meanwhile, provides much needed central defensive cover for David Weir and Madjid Bougherra. An England under-19 international, he made his Arsenal debut in a Champions League match against Olympiakos in December 2009 before spending the second half of last season and the first half of the current campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

Beattie's departure to Blackpool, for the rest of the season, comes as no great surprise. The former England international has struggled to make an impact at Ibrox since his 1.25 million move from Stoke City last August, failing to score in seven appearances.